Adjustable drain



'Dec. 16, 1941. G, H. HUTCHINS I 2,266,043

' ADJUSTABLE DRAIN Filed May 29, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l 194. G. H.HUTCHINS ADJUSTABLE DRAIN Filed May 29, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedDec. 16, 1941 I UNITED- sures 1 rice ADJUSTABLE DRAIN GeorgeHowardHutchins, Hollywood, Calif. Application May 29, 1939, Serial No. 276,319

2 Claims.

This invention relates to portable devices adapted to be positioned overthe drain opening of a sink, or thelike, for controlling the flow ofliquid into the drain. More particularly, the inventionrelates todevices for permittinga regulated flow into the drain, asdistinct fromstopper devices that necessarily completely block the flow.

An object of the invention is to produce a simple, practicable andinexpensive drain device adaptable to any receptacle, such as a sink,wash basin, bath tub, or the. like, andwhich definitely 'limitsthe depthof water while permitting regulated flow of water into the drain fromthe bottom of the receptacle. Another object is to provide a draindevice particularly useful in the washing of photographic prints orfilms in sinks, in that it is capable of maintaining a desired depth ofwater while permitting discharge of the bottom water, and is inherentlynon-cloggable by the prints or films.

Another object is to provide a drain device for a sink, which deviceisparticularly usefulin washing vegetables, berries, dishes, and the like,inthat it maintains a substantial depth of water in the sink, whilepermitting a rapid flow of water from the bottom of the sink into thedrain to carry away heavy foreign matter that settles to the bottom.

The manner in which the foregoing objects are achieved will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of. certain particularembodiments of the invention, with reference to the drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective. view of a, device in accordance with myinvention, with a portion thereof broken away to better disclose theconstruction;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through a portion of a sink equipped withthe device of Fig. 1, showing the manner of use of the device;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section in the plane IVIV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section similar to that of Fig. 3, but illustratingan alternative construction; and

Figs. 6, '7 and 8 are perspective views showing three alternativeconstructionsto that of Fig. 1.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the device therein depictedcomprises two essential elements, namely a base portion 1, preferably,con.-

immediately in front of the window 7.

structeclof soft rubber or similar elastic, yieldablematerial, and ahollow column 2 which may be of rugged material, such as metal, and isfrictionally attached to the base member -l' in fluid-tightrelationjthereto. The column 2 may consist simpl of a short section ofpipe open at both ends and having a lateral-discharge opening or window3 adjacent'its lower end. The column 2 may also have a lateral overflowopening 4-adja-cent its upper end, although this opening may beeliminated when the device is used for certain purposes.

The base portion I comprises a tubular portion 5 and a flange or skirtportion fi-formed in tegrally therewith. The tubular portion 5 snuglyreceives the lower end of the column 2 to seal with the latter andfrictionally retain it in any position of rotation into which it may beturned. The skirt portion 5- is of o verall-diameter sufiicient to coverthe usual screen in the drain opening of a sink so that it can liethereover and seal with the bottom of the sink surrounding the screen.-This skirt portion 6 is preferably made very thin and flexible so thatit readily conforms to the sink in response to slight pressure of wateror other liquid retained in the sink.

The tubular portion 5 of the base has a window I in the side thereof,which window is preferably of substantially the same shape and dimensionas the-Window 3 in the column 2 so that when thecolumn is-rotated tobring the windows 3 and 1 into registration, a discharge passage havingthe full cross sectional, area of the window 3 is provided; The materialofthe base i is preferably extended inwardly at the lower, end of thetubular portion 5. to prov'ide a flange 8. which limits downwardmovement of the column Z-in the base portion to thereby facilitate thequick adjustment of the column in the base to bring the indows 3 and 1at the sam level.

When the device is to be employed for washing prints, I preferablyprovide a plurality of upstanding fingers or posts 9 on the skirtportion 6 Three such posts have been shown in the drawings, but it is tobe understood thata greater or a lesser number than three may beemployed. These posts constitute additional guard means for preventingprints from being carried against the window I and blocking, thedischarge of water therethrough.

The operation of the device when employed for washing prints in a sink,is illustrated in Fig. 2, which shows a conventional sink l0 having awastepipe II leading therefrom and having a relatively large strainerplate I2 positioned above the wastepipe II for preventing large solidobjects from entering the wastepipe. My device is positioned immediatelyover the strainer plate l2 and concentric relative thereto so that theflange or skirt 6 overlaps the strainer plate I2 on all sides andprevents leakage of water thereunder. Water is permitted to flowcontinuously into the sink from the faucet (not shown) and at the sametime escape from the sink through the windows I and 3 into the column 2and thence down through the strainer I2 of the sink into the wastepipe II. The size of this discharge opening is adjustable by rotating thecolumn 2 relative to the base I until the rate of discharge through theopening is less than the rate of flow from thefaucet into the sink sothat the level of the water rises above the window I. Ordinarily therate of discharge through the windows I and 3 will be made substantiallyless than the rate of inflow from the faucet so that the level of thewater in the sink rises to the overflow opening 4. Therefore the excesswater can discharge through the opening 4 so that the latter serves tolimit the level and prevent it from rising clear to the top of thecolumn 2. This is desirable when washing prints, illustrated at I3 inFig. 2, because it is possible, when the level of the water is even withthe top of the column 2, for a print to float across the top of thecolumn and dam the upper end thereof, whereupon the sink might fill upand overflow onto the floor. Ordinarily the water is introduced into thesink in such a direction as to produce a revolving current therein,which tends to maintain the prints in a general horizontal position sothat if one should float against the discharge opening 4 it would merelypresent an edge thereto and would not be apt to clog the opening.

Likewise, because of the fact that the prints usually assume roughlyhorizontal positions, there is little danger of a print being carriedagainst the window I in such position as to dam it, even if the posts 9are eliminated. The fact that the orifice of the opening 7 lies in acurved vertical plane, makes it much'less apt to be clogged by a printthan if the orifice were horizontal.

The adjustable opening provided by the windows I and 3 being positionedclosely adjacent the bottom of the sink, facilitates the discharge ofheavy liquids or small solid objects, which would accumulate in thebottom of the sink if the only discharge therefrom were through theoverflow opening 4 or through the top of the column 2. This is highlyadvantageous in washing photographic prints because the chemicals to bewashed from the print tend to settle to the bottom where they arequickly discharged through the windows I and 3.

It is to be understood that the device is also useful when washingdishes, vegetables, etc., in a sink, under which conditions heavyparticles of foreign matter settle to the bottom of the sink and arewashed out through the windows I and 3. At the same time, grease andlike elements which float to the top, discharge through the opening 4 orinto the top of the column 2. When the structure is designed for generalkitchen use, as distinct from the washing of photographic prints, theopening 4 may well be eliminated, as in the model shown in Fig. 6,causing the level of water in the sink to rise clear to the top of thecolumn 2. This facilitates the discharge of light objects which float tothe surface. Thus if berries are washed in a sink equipped with mydevice, they may contain as foreign matter to be removed, light objectssuch as leaves, and heavier objects or particles, such as sand. Thelight objects float to the surface and are discharged through the top ofthe column 2, (Fig. 6) while the heavier objects settle to the bottomand are carried off through the windows I and 3, this action beingfacilitated by the fact that the direct passage through the windows Iand 3 provides for a rapid flow of water from the bottom of the sink.

Aside from its use for continuous washing purposes, my device isparticularly useful as a sink stopper. Thus by rotating the sleeve 2suificiently to completely close the window I, the device may be used tocompletely block continuous flow from the sink, provided the level ofthe water is not raised above the top of the sleeve (or above theopening 4 when the latter is present). When used as an ordinary stopper,the device has the important advantage of providing a safety overflowshould one forget to turn the water off when the. sink has been filledto the desired depth. The device may be used in a bath tub'in place ofthe usual stopper when it is desired to insure against the waterexceeding a desired level, as when permitting a small baby to play byitself in the tub.

An alternative construction is disclosed in Fig. 5. This construction issimilar in all respects to that disclosed in Fig. 1, except that thecolumn 2' is telescopically fitted about the tubular portion 5 of thebase I instead of being fitted therewithin.' The remaining elements ofthe structure shown in Fig. 5 correspond exactly to those of Figs. 1, 3and '4, and bear corresponding reference numerals.

The device described with reference to Figs. 1 and 5 employs a pluralityof separate posts 9 or 9 positioned in front of the window I or I toprevent prints from being carried against the window by the flow ofwater thereinto. It is not necessary, however, that these walls assumethe forms of posts, as described, and two alternative constructions aredisclosed in Figs. 7 and 8. In Fig. 7 a pair of radial walls 20 and 2|are extended outwardly from the tubular portion 5 of the base I, thesewalls 20 also merging at their low-er edges with the flange portions 6of the base. This construction as disclosed in Fig. 7 has thesubstantial advantage that there is nothing directly in front of thewindows I to impede the flow of the water thereinto, although it willserve to prevent large objects, such as prints, from being carriedagainst the window I.

The structure of Fig. 8 differs from that of Fig. 1 only in that a solidwall 22 is provided in front of the window I, this wall rising from theflange portion 6 of the base I to a height which may be above or belowthe upper edge of the window I. In the drawing the wall 22 is shownextending slightly higher than the window I and is arcuately shapedabout the axis of the pipe 2 as a center.

In all the modifications described, only one window I has been provided.Ordinarily one window is perfectly satisfactory and is relativelyinexpensive to manufacture. However, it is to be understood that ifdesired two, three or a larger number of windows may be provided atcircumferentially spaced points on the pipe 2 and on the tubular portion5 of the base I so that water can discharge into the wastepipe at aplurality of circumferentially spaced points,

For the purpose of explaining the invention, certain specificembodiments thereof have been described in detail, but it is to beunderstood that various departures from the specific construction showncan be made without departing from the invention, which is to be limitedonly to the extent set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the type described comprising a base member of resilient,flexible material adapted to rest on the bottom of a sink over thedrainhole therein, said member having a lower portion consisting of athin annular skirt adapted to conform to the shape of and seal with thesink about the drainhole therein, and having an integral tubular portionalso of resilient, flexible material, upstanding from the said lowerportion and defining a passage adapted to communicate at its lower endwith said drainhole, a sleeve member in telescoping relation at itslower end with said tubular portion of said base member and extendingupwardly therefrom, said sleeve member and said tubular portion of saidbase member having lateral orifices therein adapted to be brought intovarying degrees of registration with each other in response to relativerotation of said members, and said tubular portion yieldably,frictionally engaging said sleeve member to seal therewith in allpositions of rotation.

2. A device as described in claim 1, with a guard wall upstanding fromsaid flange in front of the orifice in said tubular portion, said guardwall being imperforate and of larger area than said orifice.

GEORGE HOWARD HUTCHINS.

